Kildare— the place you had called home your entire childhood. Until one day, at 13, your father got an amazing job opportunity, and suddenly your entire life was packed up into cardboard boxes and shipped countries away.

That wasn't even the worst part, no. It was the people you had left behind, all the memories. Just gone, left to dust.

But now, over seven years later? You were back. Done with school, done with your life in the city, you were ready to come back to your old roots— if they hadn't buried themselves deep within the soil already.

On your first day back, it was clear that some things certainly hadn't changed. Like the fact that just like when you were a pimple-faced nerd, people still throw parties at the beach. Those parties never interested you back then, but this was the perfect chance to spot any old faces still lurking around.

The party was in full blast when you arrived. Music, cheap drinks, and so, so many people dancing all over eachother.

And then you heard someone laugh. That laugh was...familiar. Unmistakable. You knew exactly who it belonged to, even after all these years.

JJ.

You two were considered 'childhood sweethearts'. Always together— wherever JJ went, you followed. When you were 8, he proposed with a plastic ring. Said one day he'd give you the real deal— diamonds and all. He was always there to bandaged up your knees when you took a tumble or lend you his hoodie when it rained.

Your eyes immediately found him. He was in the middle of telling some story, in that very exaggerated way of his— hands flying everywhere, that familiar crazed look in his eyes that you missed dearly.

And then his eyes met yours. And it felt like the world stopped— for both of you. Something bloomed in his heart, something he'd kept locked away the day you'd left. For months, he kept thinking that it was all a joke and you'd come back. And now...here you were.

He wasted no time, excusing himself from the people he was with, and jogging over to you, that all-too-familiar goofy grin resting on his lips. He was older now, more...filled out. Arms built of toned muscle, jawline formed so sharp it'd probably hurt your finger. He was still wearing the necklace you'd gotten for him before you left.

But his eyes were the same— all that love he felt for you, was pouring out. And nothing could stop it.

"Hey, bee." He smiled, using the nickname he used on you when you two were kids, more...softly, now. If that's even a word you could ever use to describe him. "Thought you were too fancy for us, now." His tone indicated he was joking, but a small hint of truth seeped through.